the procedure done is also increasing. (Davis, p.26, 1995)Breast augmentations, like many cosmetic surgery procedures, are often expensive. Depending on anesthesia cost, surgical facilities and doctor fees, among others, current cost of breast augmentations can range from $3000.00 to $8000.00. (http://www.surgery.com/topics/braug/html) In addition to monetary expense, there are also serious health risks. There is a 40 percent chance of some side effect ranging from lack of sensation in breasts, scarring, or painful encapsulation (hardening of the breast around the implant due to scar tissue or calcium deposits). There is a 20 percent chance that they’d become infected or rejected by the body and have to be removed and redone. (Davis, p.3, 1995) More specifically, from 1985 to 1996 the FDA has received 125,012 reports of adverse reactions as a result of saline implants, which are deemed to be safer concerning health than silicone implants. (USFDA, p.25, 1996)In spite of these adversary effects of breast augmentation and the statistics that support them, the procedure remains today one of the most popular forms of cosmetic surgery, second only to liposuction. (Davis, p.9, 1995)People are willing to brave these risks because there are deeper cultural values and attitudes underlying.One possible assumption of societies underlying cultural values concerns that of the beauty system. In this, there are suggestive, if not stereotypical, roles that both genders adhere to. Expressions of characteristics that fill these rolls are accomplished in many ways, a major one being physical appearance. Generally, women traditionally are characterized by femininity. (Davis, p.49-51, 1995)Breasts are invariably confederated with femininity in the United States culture. Particularly, femininity and voluptuous breasts correlate, making breast augmentation a way to enhance femininity. (Davis, p.9, 1995)The opportunity to buy most anything one could nee...
